In the Philippines the school year is from June to March, with summer time being April-May.

By God’s blessing HHCR is able to take the kids to a beach or pool every Tuesday and Thursday!

The kids are loving their summer time!

Thank you for your prayers and support!

Enjoy this video!

HHCR is proud of our kids who worked hard to build this wall.

These kids of HHCR are proud of “their wall!”

Have you ever had a summer job?

As a teenager I cut grass, chopped wood, painted a house, and did whatever my dad told me to do! My dad told me hard work builds character. At the time I just wanted the allowance money that came with the job, who cares about character. Looking back I can see how wise my dad is. Thanks dad!

Our kids here at HHCR have taken on a Summer Project! Build a wall.

The purpose of the wall is to keep out stray dogs and other things.

These kids/teenagers have worked hard this summer and proud of what they have accomplished together! They gathered rock, and mixed concrete to hand build this wall. The wall is about 40 ft long and 5 ft high. They covered the face of the wall with extra concrete and edged it out to look like large stones. They did an AMAZING JOB!

These teens are paid for their work.

But more than that, these kids are building life skills. They learn to work together as team. They lean how to work hard to accomplish a goal. They lean to take pride in a job well done!

We are proud of our kids and the wall! You can see in the picture that they are proud of “their wall” too!

-John

HHCR Performing Arts Contestants 2013

Contestant #1

Contestant # 2

Contestant # 3

Contestant # 4

Contestant # 5

Contestant # 6

Contestant # 7

Contestant # 8

Contestant # 9

Contestant # 9 helpers

Contestant # 10

HHCR Performing Arts Contestants 2013 silly pic!

Every year for the last several years HHCR has had a talent competition called Performing Arts. Students are selected to perform on stage to demonstrate whatever talent they choose. Some do a solo performance while others gather a team to help them express their God given talent. The purpose of this event is to build confidence, courage and character. They must practice and prepare. Using the idea of the tv show “American Idol” our judges watch these performances every week giving critiques to help the student improve. Each student also has a coach that helps them practice to develop their talent. They are given a little over 6 weeks to rehearse their talent and prepare for the final event. There are prizes and awards given. Each performer is also given a prize for their effort.

I think you will agree we have some very talented kids here at HHCR!

(Thank you for your faithful prayers and support of our mission!)

Here is the Performing Arts 2013 in order of performance, enjoy!

Opening Performance!

Judges Performance!

Contestant #1!

Contestant #2!

Contestant #3!

Contestant #4!

Contestant #5!

Intermission Performance!

Contestant #6! – Third Place Winner!

Contestant #7! – First Place Winner!

Contestant #8!

Contestant #9!

Contestant #10! – Second Place Winner!

Pastor Sonny when her first came to HHCR. Everyone called him “Sonny boy”

Pastor Florence (left) and Pastor Sonny (right) as HHCR youth.

The Pacris brothers, Sonny (left) and Florence (right) and their beloved Lola Nancy!

Poog (pronounced Poo-og) Elementary School educates 900 kids.

This is one class room of 4th graders at Poog Elementary.

Here the volunteer mothers pass out the food to the kids. They move from class room to class room.

This is a report from one of our feeding programs run by Pastor Sonny Pacris, a former child of HHCR. We are very proud of him!

“One Child Matters, together with the Convoy of Hope, came together to start a feeding program at Poog Elementary School. At first it was handled by Pastor Largo at upper Poog (a small community in the hills away from the school) and the population that was fed was about a hundred. Then we decided to move it to Poog Elementary School which has a population of nine hundred kids. God was good and we were able to ask permission from the principal, who amazingly agreed to help, along with the teachers. Together we feed nine hundred kids every day. Last year, July 2012, we had a problem cooking the food due to the unfamiliar food supply. Because we do not know how to cook it to fit our Filipino taste, we decided to invent a new recipe which is very nutritious, and the kids love it! We formed the volunteer mothers into groups of 8 or 9, and scheduled them for a weekly rotation. They cook for the kids and it is a success! It truly inspired me to see the kids going to school knowing that they have free lunch every day. The teachers told me that there was a poor kid who had a lot of absences from class due to the family’s financial problems. He does not have money or food for lunch so instead he would get a handful of firewood and carry it and sell it at the market. Now instead of selling it, he happily donates it to the feeding program which also helps to feed him and many other kids. The teachers happily reported to me that this kid is on his way to high school! I am so proud of the mothers and teachers who come to join us and make this program a success. According to our record, the kids who are a part of our feeding program are now healthy and well. I know that I cannot do this without God’s help. I give Him all the credit making the feeding program a success, and also for touching the hearts of the teachers, mothers and kids in Poog. I remember how God provided the Israelite people with food in the wilderness, and I can see a similar situation in Poog. God always provides for all of our needs, He never leaves us, or forsakes us. God bless the Poog feeding program!”

~Pastor Sonny Pacris

*About the author: Sonny came to HHCR as a 5 year old. He and his older brother (7 years old) were left on a dock to live on their own. Now he is the acting pastor of the Poog (pronounced Poo-og) community. He is also the OCM (One Child Matters) representative in Poog for over 75 kids. He is the Convoy of Hope representative for the feeding program in Poog. Poog feeds 900 kids every day!

The woman is this story is standing to the far left dressed in white.

Today I heard an amazing story of dedication! To celebrate Easter, our church performed a drama about the last week of Jesus’ life, leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection. We planned this as an outreach to the people in our community, so there were 3 performances on 3 different days. Easter Sunday was the final performance, and Happy Church has a sunrise service at 5:00 am! The cast members were asked to arrive at the Ranch at 4:00 am, but at 1:00 am, the night guard heard someone banging on the gate. It was a family that lives about 2 miles away from our church (a grueling walk up incredibly steep hills– cars, not even motorbikes, can access the area where they live). The guard asked why they had arrived so very early, and the mother replied that they have no clocks or watches in their home. They had gone to sleep for a while, and when they woke up they had no idea what time it was, so they decided to head to church. They did not want to be late for the Easter play!! When the guard explained that it was only 1:00, this precious family simply waited at the Ranch until it was time to prepare for the play.

Can you imagine?!? Honestly, would you be willing to walk 2 miles in the middle of the night to participate in an Easter play? Now, I know some people get all excited about new cell phones or video games, and they’ll camp out for hours or stay up all night to make sure they receive their new toy. But just for a simple Easter play? These people didn’t even have major roles, they were just crowd members. I don’t know if anyone would have noticed their absence. But they had committed to be there, and they made sure it happened!

I hope I’m not stepping too hard on your (and my!) toes, but this story makes me think of Keith Green’s song, “Asleep in the Light”.

The world is sleeping in the dark

That the church just can’t fight

Cause it’s asleep in the light

How can you be so dead

When you’ve been so well fed

Jesus rose from the grave

And you, you can’t even get out of bed!

I am so proud of this family for their dedication to their Savior, and to their church. I think we could all learn something from them. Happy Easter, everyone!!

~ Kelli Williford – Missionary Associate working for Missionaries Glenn and Nancy Garrison at HHCR.

Blanket Ministries from two different churches gave hand made blankets and quilts to our kids.

We made a Thank You video for: The Worship Center in Brighton, Colorado in partnership with Kidz Quiltz in Ft. Lupton, Colorado & New Life Assembly of God in Janesville, Wisconsin for their blankets. We also want to thank Convoy of Hope for delivering these warm gifts of God’s amazing love to the kids of HHCR.

Tonight our kids know God loves them, because their Heavenly Father had someone 9,000 miles away hand make them a beautiful quilt!

They will sleep better feeling warm on the outside and peace on the inside!

Thank you Jesus for once again meeting the needs of the children of the Philippines!

“Pastor Glenn, you have to come and join us in Poog, the mother’s are so hungry for God’s word”, Sonny Boy exclaimed. What a joy it is to see our young people following God’s direction. Poog is a small mountain community that has been neglected by most everyone. HHCR began an outreach to the children in the community. Currently HHCR has about 80 children in our project there. Sonny Boy had finished his first year of Bible College and we needed a worker, so he volunteered. Seeing the kids, the mothers and the opportunity to put into practice what he was learning in school, made him the best candidate for this new church plant.

Watching his enthusiasm for the work is heart warming. Sonny Boy joined the Ranch at the age of five along with his older brother Florence. He has always been a serious kid, and a wonderful Ranch kid. He worked hard, always obedient and enthusiastic about his future. Having lost his parents while a young boy he understands the opportunity that HHCR has given him. Your faithful support of this work is what gives us the chance to help kids like Sonny Boy.

Thank you for your help and support,

Pastor Glenn Garrison

Nancy and I have been connecting with friends and churches in the States. Visiting with family, we have been to three reunions so far, it is so wonderful. We are thankful for great health and great relationships.

Megan from Kansas just arrived this morning to Cebu for a four month internship. I am sure she is tired and jet lagged, but no doubt thrilled to see this part of the journey come to reality.

We are waiting for Joan and Vern to return to get back to work. They are a retired couple that blessed HHCR now for many years. We are grateful for a contribution of $24000 that is waiting them to help finish our security wall. The gift came from an anonymous donor and we are thrilled. The fence has been waiting completion for a number of years. It will be so great to have our place a bit more secure for the children and staff members.

Our partnership with Convoy of Hope is growing, and this year already we have processed two 40′ container vans full of food. This is enabling us to feed over 2200 children five days a week at their elementary schools. Along with our team of volunteers at each school we are making a huge difference in the well being of young children.

Mission of Mercy continues to astound us as our partnership with them grows and develops. We are currently sponsoring about 1230 children, assisting them and their families. We provide educational assistance, healthcare assistance and spiritual development. It is a terrific fit for us and our local Assemblies of God churches.

Please continue to pray with us for safety and health of all our staff and members. We thank God for each of you.

For the Kingdom,

Glenn & Nancy Garrison
Founding Directors, HHCR

HHCR has been a life changing ministry for almost 20 years. This video shows pictures from “then” 15-17 years ago to “now” 2012. The best part of the video and the Ranch ministry is the life changing touch HHCR has on those who live here. We love these kids. Now that we have graduated many out of HHCR they have started families. We are proud of them and love their kids too. We are a family here at HHCR. Thank you to all the missionary teams who have helped to make this Ranch a better place. And a HUGE thank you to Missionaries Glenn and Nancy Garrison for planting this transformational ministry! The kids and now alumni of HHCR love you!

This video is a “Thank you” to our new friends Chris and Victoria. It is also a “Thank you” to all our friends and supporters like you who make daily life at the Ranch possible with your love, prayers and giving. We love you.

One of the ladies showed her talent by preforming a traditional bamboo dance along with a fancy young male partner, a terrific job. The “peoples choice” was for a workout number where the lead (a young lady) couldn’t get the guys to follow. It was incredibly funny.

I share this because we use these performances as a tool for healing. It often is the only way these kids can find expression for many of their broken hearts. It brought tears to our eyes as we saw two sister who had been so badly traumatized as little girls that when they first came to the ranch they could hardly speak. Now they danced and painted unbelievably beautiful scenes of joy and happiness. It demonstrates the trans formative power of God. We will be having some videos of each of the presentations uploaded on our youtube site.

This last Sunday Alumni In Defense (A.I.D) went to the local dump site in Cebu, and ministered to young girls that are often the target of traffickers. This area that is many hectors in size houses hundred of very poor families that make their living going through the garbage hauled here from all over Cebu Metroplex. Because of extreme poverty and many single family homes, girls are extremely vulnerable. HHCR, through its A.I.D. program reaches out to these girls and trains them in what to look out for. If the girl is very vulnerable we will even take the girl from the place and bring her to the Ranch. Currently we have about a dozen girls that fit this criteria.

A.I.D. is run by a former graduate of HHCR, Amy Labajo, who is beginning her law school this coming June. The other volunteers are former graduates of HHCR who live in Cebu, either attending college or working. We thank the Lord for this most effective ministry. If you would like to be a part, you can by clicking on the link “Join Our Cause” and make a donation.

Rev. Glenn

Happy Horizons is the M.o.M. headquarters for the Philippines. Mission of Mercy is a world wide Bible-based child sponsorship program. You can learn more about M.o.M. by visiting their web site http://www.missionofmercy.org/

My name is John A. Williford. My family and I serve as missionary associates for our head missionaries Glenn and Nancy Garrison. My wife Kelli, works as a teacher at Happy Horizons Academy and my two kids Clara (4) and Lincoln (3) go to school at the same Academy. We have lived here at the Ranch since December 2010.

This past week I had the privilege of assisting the this dental team to various parts of Cebu Island where we have Mission of Mercy projects. Though I missed my family while I was traveling I had a great time. The dental team was amazing to watch. They brought their own equipment including a dental chair that could fold down into a box! They worked so hard to help as many kids and adults as possible. It was sad to see how many kids lived each day tooth pain. I can only imagine the relief they felt once the dentist removed the abscessed tooth. As a parent I can imagine the relief each mother and father felt knowing they don’t have to comfort their child while she cries over a hurting tooth night after night. Praise God for this dental team. I don’t want to over look our optometrist. I could see the joy on each face as they received their new eye glasses. One mother was so happy because she could now see clearly far away so she could drive her motor bike with out fear (the motor bike here is cross between a scooter and a motorcycle, and is the most common mode of private transportation). For me it was a real blessing to see the dentist and optometrist giving so freely their time and energy to help those in need. Praise God for body of Christ being able to come together to complete the will of God.

I put together the above video so I am behind the camera instead of in front of it. I am only in one shot. The slide that says “Malapascua Dental Team” I am in the top left hand corner. I hope you enjoy the video. I love to see Christians giving generously and using their God given gifts and talents to bless others. “…to whom much is given much is required…” Luke 12:48

Magkaibigan gave Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch wonder Christmas gifts from the heart. In December of 2011 this wonder group came up the Ranch and blessed the kids. HHCR is so thankful for the gifts from Magkaibigan. May God bless you Magkaibigan!